Hull Surface Treatment (HST) is a new environmentally friendly hull cleaning treatment for removing growth from a ship's hull.

It uses no chemicals, detergents or substances which are foreign or harmful to the marine environment. The HST system utilises thermal shock to instantly kill the growth and its spores. more

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Download the PUBLISHED PAPER on the effectiveness of HST on treating Sea-Chests and eliminating Bio-Security risk.

Mark Luchetti, Business Development Director at T&C Marine attended the 16th International Congress on Marine Corrosion and Fouling (ICMCF) which was held over 4 days from 24 - 28 June, 2012 in Seattle, Washington.
A significant number of the 290 delegates present from over 45 countries were regarded as 'world leaders' in their various disciplines which were all associated with the impact of marine bio-fouling on the wetted surface of vessels and submerged structures...and the various coatings and systems (past, present and future) implemented to reduce/eliminate those impacts.

Some of the those present included Prof. Mike Schultz, Prof. Geoffrey Swain, Dr. Gail Ashton, Dr. Serena Teo, Mr Daniel Kane and Dr. John Lewis.

One of the key issues identified at the Congress was that...Bio-fouling management, response and solutions are becoming fiercely competitive, as it becomes more obvious that marine coatings will not satisfy the environmental, operational and socio-economic needs of the 21st century...as it relates to the maritime industry. Investment, innovation and research in anti-foul coatings containing biocide has been reduced in direct proportion to the elimination of various toxicants previously allowed in marine coatings. Non-biocide FR silicon coatings have failed to deliver the promised hydrodynamic, bio-fouling free wetted hulls...and a combination of new and innovative in-water hull cleaning/sterilisation is essential, working in conjunction with an acceptable AF coating to eliminate/reduce marine bio-fouling impacts on both the propulisve fuel penalty attribuatble to frictional drag...and...marine bio-security.

These conclusions, supported by numerous other presentations at the Congress made for a compelling conclusion (and recommendation in many instances) that best management practices (BMPs) must include in-water hull cleaning as a regular and necessary component of hull maintenance.

Recent scientific evaluation of puts this multi award winning 'green marine innovation' on the front-line in the battle against the impacts of marine bio-fouling...on the maritime industry and wider marine environments.